Fishing device

ABSTRACT

A fishing device for setting a hook in a fish, playing the fish, and indicating that the fish has been hooked. The device comprises a shaft tapering at one end to a tip portion, and having connected thereto at its opposite end an elastic band having an unstretched length sufficient to reach the tip portion but being stretchable to engage the tip portion. A main fishing line is connected to the shaft at a point adjacent to the connection point of the elastic band but in closer proximity to the tip portion. A fish hook supporting line is connected to the elastic band at its tip-engaging portion. The elastic band when stretched to engage the top portion is releasable therefrom by a pull on the fish hook supporting line. When the device is triggered, the elastic band acts to set the hook in the fish and play the fish until retrieved by the fisherman, and the shaft swings backwards and forwards to act as an indicator to the fisherman that the fish has been hooked.

United States Patent Walker et al.

[15] 3,703,781 [451 Nov. 28, 1972 FISHING DEVICE [72] Inventors: BobbyT. Walker, Route 3, Box 356, Monroe, La. 71201; Vincent F. Danna, Route2, Box 442-A, West Monroe, La. 71291 [22] Filed: Dec. 11, 1970 21 Appl.No.: 97,198

1,314,579 12/1962 France ..43/15 Primary Examinen-Aldrich F. MedberyAssistant Examiner-Daniel J. Leach AttorneyBerman, Davidson & Berman s7ABSTRACT A fishing device for setting a hook in a fish, playing thefish, and indicating that the fish has been hooked. The device comprisesa shaft tapering at one end to a tip portion, and having connectedthereto at its opposite end an elastic band having an unstretched lengthsufficient to reach the tip portion but being stretchable to engage thetip portion. A main fishing line is connected to the shaft at a pointadjacent to the connection point of the elastic band but in closerproximity to the tip portion. A fish hook supporting line is connectedto the elastic band at its tip-engaging portion. The elastic band whenstretched to engage the top portion is releasable therefrom by a pull onthe fish hook supporting line. When the device is triggered, the elasticband acts to set the hook in the fish and play the fish until retrievedby the fisherman, and the shaft swings backwards and forwards to act asan indicator to the fisherman that the fish has been hooked.

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FISHING DEVICE The present invention relates to a fishing device and,more particularly, to a device for setting a hook in the fish, playingthe fish until retrieved by the fisherman, and indicating to thefisherman that the fish has been hooked. g

-Various devices have previously been utilized for setting the hook in afishs jaw when the bait has been seized. These devices have generallybeen spring operated with relatively complicated trigger mechanisms and,hence, have been relatively expensive to manufacture and difficult torepair. Also, such prior devices have lacked suitable means for givingthe fisherman a readily apparent indication that the fish has beenhooked.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a fishhook setting device having a trigger mechanism which is simple inconstruction, easy to operate, and inexpensive to manufacture andrepair.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fish hooksetting device of the type described above, which also allows for theplaying of the fish until the fish is retrieved by the fisherman.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a fish hooksetting device of the type described above, which further includes areadily apparent means for indicating to the fisherman that the fish hasbeen hooked.

The device of the present invention comprises a shaft made from wood,plastic, rubber, or the like, and tapered at one end to a tip portion.At the opposite end of the shaft from the tip portion are two lineconnecting means, preferably in the form of axially spaced transverseapertures through the shaft. To the line connecting means in closerproximity to the tip portion is connected the main fishing line. Theline connecting means further-removed from the tip portion has connectedthereto an elastic band having an unstretched length insufficient toreach the tip portion of the shaft, but being stretchable to engage thetip portion. A fish hook supporting line is connected to the elasticband at the portion thereof which engages the tip portion of the shaft.The device is set merely by stretching the elastic band into engagementwith the tip portion of the shaft. Thereafter, a pull on the fish hooksupporting line by the fish seizing the bait acts to trigger the deviceby releasing the elastic band from its engagement with the tip portionof the shaft. The sudden pull of the elastic band in returning towardits unstretched condition acts to quickly set the hook in the fishs jaw,and the elasticity of the band as it is being stretched by the fishpulling away and then being contracted back toward its unstretchedcondition, allows for the fish to be played readily apparent from thefollowing detailed description when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate likeparts throughout the several FIGS. and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fish hook setting device of thepresent invention, shown in its set posiuntil retrieved by thefisherman. Furthermore, the altion ready to be put into the water;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, shown after thedevice has been triggered by a fish, and showing the alternativemovements of the device while the fish is being played;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the shaft of the device of FIGS. 1 and2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the shaft of FIG. 3 turnedabout its axis;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified form of the shaftwhich can be used in accordance with the present invention; I

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the shaft of FIG. 5 turned90 about its axis;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary elevation view of a modifie form of the shaft ofFIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 is afragmentary elevational view showing a modified form of tipportion for the shaft of the device of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentaryv elevational view showing another modified formof tip portion for the shaft of the device of the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary elevational view showing still another modifiedform of tip portion for the shaft of the device of the presentinvention. I

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 10 generally indicatesthe fish hook setting device of the present invention which includes acylindrical shaft 12 having a tip portion 14 at its lower end. The shaft12 may be made of wood, plastic, rubber, or the like. As shown in FIGS.1 to 3, the tip portion 14 is tapered and rounded at its end. Adjacentto the opposite end 15 of the shaft 12 are two line connecting means inthe form of apertures 16 and 18 extending transversely through the shaft12. As shown, the apertures 16 and 18 are both axially andcircumferentially spaced'aparton the shaft 12, with the aperture 18being further removed from the tip portion than the aperture 16. Thepreferred spacing of the two apertures is from 1 to l '72 inches apart.Connected to the lower aperture 16 is the main fishing line 20, theother end of which may be attached to a fishing pole, tree, limb, log,or the like, at the fishermans discretion. Connected to the upperaperture 18 is an elastic band 22 having an unstretched lengthinsufficient to reach the tip portion 14 of the shaft 12. In thepreferred embodiment, the elastic band 22 extends unstretched a distanceof approximately five-eighths of the distance from the aperture 18 tothe end of the tip portion 14. The elastic band 22 is stretchable so asto be engageable with the tip portion 14 as shown in FIG. 1. Connectedto the elastic band 22 at its tip engaging portion 23 is a hooksupporting line 24, to the other end of which is attached a fish hook 26carrying bait 28.

The device is set merely by stretching the elastic band 22 intoengagement with the tip portion 14 of the shaft 12, as shown in FIG. 1.When a fish 30, in seizing the bait 28, pulls on the line 24, as shownin FIG. 2, the

device is triggered by the elastic band 22 being released from itsengagement with the tip portion 14 of the shaft 12. The jerk of theelastic band 22 in contracting toward its unstretched condition acts toquickly'set the hook 26 in the fishs jaw. The elasticity of the band 22asit is being stretched by the fish pulling away and then beingcontracted back toward its unstretched condition, allows for the fish tobeplayed until retrieved by the fisherman. Furthermore, the alternatestretching and contracting of the elastic band 22 as the fish is beingplayed transmits forces of alternating direction to the shaft 12 at theaperture 18 where the band 22 is connected to the shaft 12. Thesealternatingly directed forces create alternatingly directed momentsaround the aperture 16 where the main fishing line is connected to theshaft 12, which results in a vigorous swinging of the shaft 12 backwardsand forwards, pivoting around the aperture 16, between the positionindicated by the solid line and the position indicated by the dottedline in FIG. 2. The device therefore not only sets the hook in the fishsjaw and allows for the fish to be played, but also acts as a readilyapparent indicator to the fisherman that the fish has been hooked.

ln FIGS. Sand 6, there is shown a modified form of the shaft which canbe used with the present invention. The cylindrical shaft 1l2 is formedwith a flattened transversely enlarged head portion 113 at the oppositecylindrical portion of the shaft, allows for a wider transverse spacingof the apertures, resulting in a greater moment being created while thefish is being played so as to provide a more vigorous and noticeablewaving of the shaft to indicate thatthe fish has been hooked.

The head portion l13 of the shaft 112 shown in' FIGS. 5 and 6 .is in theform of a tear-drop shape. A modification allowing for an even greatertransverse spacing of the line connecting apertures is shown in FIG. 7.The cylindrical shaft 212 is provided with a head portion 213 formed ina tilted figure 8 shape. The head portion 213 has formed therein a loweraperture 216 for connection of the main fishing line and an upperaperture 218 for connection of the elastic band.

The tip portion of the shaft may be formed in various shapes andconfigurations, so long as it is designed to hold the elastic band inengagement which is sufficiently secure to prevent accidental trippingof the device, but releasable upon a tugging by a fish on the hooksupporting line. Various modified forms of tip portion which can beemployed on the shaft of the device of the present invention are shownin FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. In FIG. 8 is shown a shaft 312 having a bulbousshaped tip portion 314. In FIG. 9 is shown a shaft 412 having a bulbousshaped tip portion 414 similar to the tip portion 314 of FIG. 8 butprovided. with a notch 417 for a more secure setting of the elastic bandon the tip. In FIG. 10 is shown a shaft 512 havinga tapered and roundedtip portion 514 similar to the tip portion 14 of FIGS. 1 to 3 butprovided with a notch 517 for a more secure setting of the elastic bandon the tip.

luminous material or be provided with a luminous coating.

While in the foregoing there has been shown'and described certainspecific embodiments of this invention, it is to be understood that manymodifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not tobe restricted except insofar as is necessitated by the prior art and bythe spirit of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: l. A fish hook setting device comprising a shafthaving a tip portion, first line-connecting means on the opposite end ofsaid shaft from said tip portion, an elastic band connected to saidfirst line-connecting means,

said elastic band having an unstretched length insuffi-- cient to reachsaid tip portion of said shaft but being stretchable to engage said tipportion, a fish line for supporting a fish hook connected to saidelastic band at its tip-engaging portion, a second line-connecting meanson the opposite end of said shaft from saidtip portion for connection toa main fish line, said elastic band when stretched to engage said tipportion being releasable therefrom by a pull on said fish hooksupporting line, said first and second line-connecting means beingaxially spaced apart along said shaft, and said first line-connectingmeans being further removed from said tip portion than said secondline-connecting means.

2. The fish hook setting device of claim 1 wherein said first and secondline-connectingmeans comprise transverse apertures through said shaft.

3. The fish hook setting device of claim 2 wherein said shaft comprisesa cylindrical portion and said apertures are circumferentially spacedapart around said cylindrical portion.

4. The fish hook setting device of claim 2 wherein said shaft includes atransversely enlarged head portion and said apertures are transverselyspaced apart on said head portion. Y

5. The fish hook setting device of claim 4 wherein said shaft comprisesa cylindrical portion and said head portion is flattened with respect to'said cylindrical portion.

6. A fish hook setting device comprisinga shaft having a tip portion,first line-connecting means on the opposite end of said shaft from saidtip portion, an elastic band connected to said first line-connectingmeans, said elastic band having an unstretched length insufficient toreach said tip portion of said shaft but being stretchable to engagesaid tip portion, a'fish line for supporting a fish hook connected tosaid elastic. band at its tip-engaging portion, and a secondline-connectingrounded.

7. The fish hook setting device of claim 6 wherein said tip portion isprovided with a notch at its end for receiving the tip-engaging portionof said elastic band.

means on the opposite end of said shaft from said tip portion forconnection to a main fish line, said elastic band when stretched toengage said tip portion being releasable therefrom by a pull on saidfish hook supporting line, said tip portion having a bulbous shape.

9. The fish hook setting device of claim 8 wherein said tip portion isprovided with a notch at its end for receiving the tip-engaging portionof said elastic band.

1. A fish hook setting device comprising a shaft having a tip portion,first line-connecting means on the opposite end of said shaft from saidtip portion, an elastic band connected to said first line-connectingmeans, said elastic band having an unstretched length insufficient toreach said tip portion of said shaft but being stretchable to engagesaid tip portion, a fish line for supporting a fish hook connected tosaid elastic band at its tip-engaging portion, a second line-connectingmeans on the opposite end of said shaft from said tip portion forconnection to a main fish line, said elastic band when stretched toengage said tip portion being releasable therefrom by a pull on saidfish hook supporting line, said first and second line-connecting meansbeing axially spaced apart along said shaft, and said firstline-connecting means being further removed from said tip portion thansaid second line-connecting means.
 2. The fish hook setting device ofclaim 1 wherein said first and second line-connecting means comprisetransverse apertures through said shaft.
 3. The fish hook setting deviceof claim 2 wherein said shaft comprises a cylindrical portion and saidapertures are circumferentially spaced apart around said cylindricalportion.
 4. The fish hook setting device of claim 2 wherein said shaftincludes a transversely enlarged head portion and said apertures aretransversely spaced apart on said head portion.
 5. The fish hook settingdevice of claim 4 wherein said shaft comprises a cylindrical portion andsaid head portion is flattened with respect to said cylindrical portion.6. A fish hook setting device comprising a shaft having a tip portion,first line-connecting means on the opposite end of said shaft from saidtip portion, an elastic band connected to said first line-connectingmeans, said elastic band having an unstretched length insufficient toreach said tip portion of said shaft but being stretchable to engagesaid tip portion, a fish line for supporting a fish hook connected tosaid elastic band at its tip-engaging portion, and a secondline-connecting means on the opposite end of said shaft from said tipportion for connection to a main fish line, said elastic band whenstretched to engage said tip portion being releasable therefrom by apull on said fish hook supporting line, said tip portion being taperedand rounded.
 7. The fish hook setting device of claim 6 wherein said tipportion is provided with a notch at its end for receiving thetip-engaging portion of said elastic band.
 8. A fish hook setting devicecomprising a shaft having a tip portion, first line-connecting means onthe opposite end of said shaft from said tip portion, an elastic bandconnected to said first line-connecting means, said elastic band havingan unstretched length insufficient to reach said tip portion of saidshaft but being stretchable to engage said tip portion, a fish line forsupporting a fish hook connected to said elastic band at itstip-engaging portion, and a second line-connecting means on the oppositeend of said shaft from said tip portion for connection to a main fishline, said elastic band when stretched to engage said tip portion beingreleasable therefrom by a pull on said fish hook supporting line, saidtip portion having a bulbous shape.
 9. The fish hook setting device ofclaim 8 wherein said tip portion is provided with a notch at its end forreceiving the tip-engaging portion of said elastic band.